Therapeutic potential of wild edible vegetables - A Review

Wild edible plants play an important role in the livelihood of people residing in rural areas. Even today in most of the remote areas, people depend on plants which are available in their natural surroundings for food, medicine, shelter etc. Majority of wild edible vegetables have medicinal property and can be used to treat common ailments. The present paper focuses on ethno-medicinal properties of some non-cultivated, traditional vegetables from published research articles, books and web based search engines. On the basis of available ethno-botanical information through published literature studies, it is observed that one or the other part of wild vegetables belonging to about 97 species of 48 families are used as medicine apart from their nutritional benefits. About 43 species of leaves, 14 species of rhizome/tuber, 11 species of fruits, 9 species of shoot/stem, and 7 species of flowers are used for food as well as medicinal purposes. Total 66 among these are used internally, 21 are used externally and 14 are being used for both internal and external administration. About 52 different disease conditions like diabetes, rheumatism, dysentery, dyspepsia, gastritis, constipation, urinary disorders are frequently treated by these wild vegetables. These are easily available in natural habitat, cheap and excellent source of nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, iron, essential minerals and other secondary metabolites. Regular use of these vegetables may indirectly act as an alternative source of medicinal drugs along with nutritional benefits. Further, they can be analyzed for their bioactive constituents and introduced as diet in routine clinical practice

Therapeutic role of vegetables in Respiratory Diseases – A critical review from Ayurvedic classics.

The concept of Pathya (wholesome diet) is an unique contribution of Ayurveda, which plays an important role in prevention and management of many diseases. “Shakavarga”, a category under dietetics in classical texts of Ayurveda enlisted different vegetables with their properties and indications in different disease conditions. These vegetables can be prescribed as Pathya (wholesome diet) in clinical practice. In the present review, plants described under Shakavarga, indicated as Pathya in different diseases related to Pranavaha Srotas (Respiratory system) were compiled from 15 different Ayurvedic classical texts. Critical analysis of the compiled data reveals that out of 332 vegetables described under Shakavarga, 44 are indicated in respiratory disease like Shvasa (Dyspnoea/Asthma), Kasa (Cough), Peenasa (Chronic rhinitis) and Hikka (Hiccup). Among them, botanical identity of 42 classical plants has been established and maximum number of vegetables belongs to the family cucurbitaceae (10) followed by solanaceae (4). Some of these vegetables have been reported for their various pharmacological activities related to prevention and management of diseases related to Pranavaha Srotas (Respiratory system). These vegetables are reported for their anti-inflammatory (16), antioxidant (14), anti-allergic (6) and antitussive (3) activities. The observed result may be helpful in use of vegetables as Pathya (wholesome diet) and planning further scientific studies about the efficacy of these plants on prevention as well as management of respiratory diseases

On the inadequacy of environment impact assessments for projects in Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park of Goa, India : a peer review

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a regulatory framework adopted since 1994 in India to evaluate the impact and mitigation measures of projects, however, even after 25 years of adoption, EIAs continue to be of inferior quality with respect to biodiversity documentation and assessment of impacts and their mitigation measures. This questions the credibility of the exercise, as deficient EIAs are habitually used as a basis for project clearances in ecologically sensitive and irreplaceable regions. The authors reiterate this point by analysing impact assessment documents for three projects: the doubling of the National Highway-4A, doubling of the railway-line from Castlerock to Kulem, and laying of a 400-kV transmission line through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the state of Goa. Two of these projects were recently granted ‘Wildlife Clearance’ during a virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) without a thorough assessment of the project impacts. Assessment reports for the road and railway expansion were found to be deficient on multiple fronts regarding biodiversity assessment and projected impacts, whereas no impact assessment report was available in the public domain for the 400-kV transmission line project. This paper highlights the biodiversity significance of this protected area complex in the Western Ghats, and highlights the lacunae in biodiversity documentation and inadequacy of mitigation measures in assessment documents for all three diversion projects. The EIA process needs to improve substantially if India is to protect its natural resources and adhere to environmental protection policies and regulations nationally and globally